I have an elderly neighbor in my neighborhood, and for the last 6 years, we’ve held a weekly club meeting to work on his massive postwar Lionel layout. At Christmas though, we bring in his oldest trains, a Standard gauge electric engine from 1913, and another steam engine made in 1937, and set them up around his tree. So cool to see this series, very excited for the next episode! :)
sorry I missed the premier. this is a great take on the railway round the xmas tree idea. ive seen plenty of trainsets round the tree but never a layout round it.
No worries Robert! Yes I was surprised I hadn't seen more scenic layouts built around this idea so that was really the genesis for the series. Thanks for watching 😃
Outstanding - this is like a high level tutorial on the basics of model railway layout construction, as covered in much greater detail in your always excellent previous videos. Well done, George
Thanks George! Yes, it was definitely intended as sort of a guide for those who might be getting their first train set for Christmas - but also to still be interesting to those of us who are more experienced modellers. Thanks for watching 😃
What a great idea to build a layout round a Christmas tree and it looks brilliant so far, I like the 00 and 009 together running side by side together, that's a nice little touch 😀
Thanks Adam, yeah adding 009 into the mix just allowed me to have some extra stuff going on inside the main circuit which I think adds to the layout. Thanks for watching 😃
Thanks Ken! If you want to see the next episode before everyone else you can join up as a Channel Member and you'll get early access to all the videos in this series. Thanks for watching 😃
Great video mate. I love the idea of having both the 00 gauge and 009 gauge track on the same layout as it will allow for both gauges of locos/stock to be run at the same time creating some interesting scenes. Look forward to the next one. - Nicholas.
Thanks Nicholas, yes the curves would have been a bit tight to have more 00 gauge inside the main circuit so I opted for 009 given how that has been really popular lately anyway. My reasoning is that Santa's elves use narrow gauge railways to move all the presents around! Thanks for watching 😃
Ive only recently subscribed to this channel a few days ago and im addicted. Me and the missus are thinking about putting our own set together next year set in the 1950s time period so watching your videos is giving me a lot of inspiration.. great videos my friend
That's brilliant, so glad to hear the videos are giving you ideas for your own layout! If this is your first layout you might want to check out my series Model Railway Basics for all the beginners guides on how to get started. Best of luck and thanks for watching 😃
Thanks Derek, the intention with this series was definitely to give some inspiration to those who might be starting their very first layout this Christmas while also still being of interest to those who are more experienced too. Thanks for watching 😃
Excellent video as always. Great mix of gauges, and using standard pieces and showing how they can make a great looking layout. You are fast becoming a youtube legend of smaller layouts.
Thanks John, yes I definitely wanted to show with this you can use set track pieces and still build a realistic looking railway. Now that I've extensively covered the smaller layout topics I really must get round to finishing my larger layout! Thanks for watching 😃
Nice little layout. The progress you've made really good. Thanks for the Derails link too. I've found a few things on there which look like nice little Christmas presents to myself. Looking forward to the next episode.
Thanks Tim, it's definitely been a fun little project tor work on and something a bit different too. Glad you found some stuff on Derails too! Thanks for watching 😃
It's not as hard as you might think, although I totally get that some people just enjoy watching others layouts come together. You become so familiar with someone else's work that it almost does become your layout. Thanks for watching 😃
Thanks, it's certainly been an interesting project to work on and just shows that even a loop of set track can be turned into a model railway. Thanks for watching 😃
Just found this - I love it - you've inspired me. It's about time my train set came out of its box - and what better place to set it up than under a Christmas tree. Well done you.
This so so much fun getting to see another build and using both 00 and 009 gauge trains even more amazing. Can't wait for the next part. Bonus got to see trains run and Rudolf looks great. GOD BLESS from America 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖
Thanks Lois, yeah it's going to be great seeing them run side by side when the layout is finished. If you can't wait for the next part you can join up as a Channel Member and you'll get early access to all the videos in this series. Thanks for watching 😃
Thanks! If you want to see it before everyone else you can become a Channel Member to get early access to the rest of the videos in this series. Thanks for watching 😃
Apart from this coherent and intelligent commentary (which extends to all TMG published videos) I can't commend Derails enough. Their range of stock and mastery of detailed issues deserve your support. I have absolutely no connection with them apart from being a customer, and provided you are not deterred by their "back door and cluttered entrance" the effort of visiting them in Coleford repays every effort.
Derails really are great aren't they. You always get the feeling they care about their individual customers or at least that's the impression I always get whenever I speak to them. Thanks for watching 😃
I’ve been working on a layout to go around my tree as well but I did it to go around my coffee table as well have you thought of name for the piano music where the peckett goes around the table
Amazing, it's definitely a fun way to take Christmas decorations to the max! The piano music is internally named Trundling Along. Thanks for watching 😃
The two lines are separate on this layout so that I can have multiple trains running simultaneously, something that wouldn't be as easy with dual gauge track. Also it would have been too complicated and expensive for what is a relatively simple project. Thanks for watching 😃
Going back over this series as it’s given me inspiration to make a small layout like it, If you don’t mind me asking, if you can still remember, where did you get the bridge/ Tunnel kits from? Love this series and enjoying watching it and making a Christmas loco again too.
Awesome, this layout it pretty small already so it would be really interested to see how it could be made even more compact. The kits were from LCUT Creative if I remember correctly - along with the Goods Shed to. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
Glad you enjoyed it Gareth. The tricky thing with electrofrog points is that there's no one singular way of wiring them up - which is perhaps where some of the confusion comes in. I very rarely use electrofrog points myself but I do have an idea for a layout in the future that will use them so never say never. Thanks for watching 😃
How do I when people live in apartment? How can I do that? I have a Christmas tree said to, but I only use the snow blanket on the ground kinda dirty afterwards underneath I had to throw it away. What can I use for protecting it underneath?
Personally I use fake tree for use with this layout - and a small one at that, only 3ft instead of a full sized tree. Otherwise the layout would have to be a lot bigger to accommodate the base. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
Your platform kits interests me. Which brand are they ? I'm planning to put a station in a curve, and I need some platforms like the one you use. Thanks for your answer !
Hi there, they're from In The Greenwood. Nice simple little kits and fairly cheap but they have some drawbacks. I'd definitely build them a bit differently in the future but they're great for getting a curved platform easily round a specific radius. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
I’ve had an answer to a similar question. The curves are all 1st radius (Peco rather than Hornby), but the points are 2nd radius. Theoretically, that shouldn’t work, but there’s enough play in the fishplates that it does.
Looking back I did the 8K Subscriber Livestream this time last year but still we've essentially doubled the amount of people watching the channel! If we can do that again next year I think my head will explode 🤯 Thanks for watching 👍
Mostly speed. It's absolutely fine to lay track directly on the board and using cork is mostly down to personal preference. I did use it on my larger 00 gauge but for this particular project I didn't feel it was necessary. Thanks for watching 😃
I note that the points (Peco ST-240 & ST241) are 2nd radius. Did you have to play any tricks to get those to work with the 1st radius curves, or was there enough play that this did not matter? Thank you.
Hi Michael, there's enough play in the set track pieces that I was able to add in the 2nd radius point without any trouble at all. I suspect it helped that I had two points on which helped balance it out. Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy , thank you for your reply. You’ve inspired me to build a small (2’6” x 3’6”) layout with a 1st radius 00 loop on the outside and a 009 loop on the inside. I’ll be sure to get my track from Derails of course.
This was intended as a quick build which is why I didn't bother with the cork underlay this time round. Generally it doesn't make a huge amount of difference to the running, the main reason I use it on my other layouts is to get a more realistic shoulder to the ballast. Thanks for watching 😃
Hi Philip here I have a question about what I should be useing for my layout as a base board at the moment I'm using big bit of cardboard but I no wood is better.what do you think I should be useing let me know
Hi Phillip, it depends on the aim of the layout. Wood is generally considered the standard for long term installations but people have used cardboard in the past for more temporary layouts. If you do go down that route I'd recommend sticking several layers together for extra strength. Alternatively, if you're not keen on building your own baseboard from wood there are laser cut kits available from several retailers that just glue together with a bit of pva. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
Great video as always, look forward to the next one. Was wondering where do you get your laser cut items from? Like the platforms and the end plates of your modules?
Thanks Andy. The laser cut kits in this series were mostly from L Cut and In The Greenwood. The endplates I use for the modular layout are custom made. Thanks for watching 😃
Hi Richard, it’s all Peco track on this layout. The 00 gauge stuff is all 1st Radius curves. Mostly double length curves but there’s a few singles to accommodate the two setrack points - I did have to do a bit of light adjustment as I was clipping it all together as well. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
I have an elderly neighbor in my neighborhood, and for the last 6 years, we’ve held a weekly club meeting to work on his massive postwar Lionel layout. At Christmas though, we bring in his oldest trains, a Standard gauge electric engine from 1913, and another steam engine made in 1937, and set them up around his tree. So cool to see this series, very excited for the next episode! :)
Amazing, that sounds like such a cool tradition! Thanks for watching 😃
Great comment, enjoy your weekly running sessions.
@@geordieceltic2 Thanks! :)
sorry I missed the premier. this is a great take on the railway round the xmas tree idea. ive seen plenty of trainsets round the tree but never a layout round it.
No worries Robert! Yes I was surprised I hadn't seen more scenic layouts built around this idea so that was really the genesis for the series. Thanks for watching 😃
Outstanding - this is like a high level tutorial on the basics of model railway layout construction, as covered in much greater detail in your always excellent previous videos. Well done, George
Thanks George! Yes, it was definitely intended as sort of a guide for those who might be getting their first train set for Christmas - but also to still be interesting to those of us who are more experienced modellers. Thanks for watching 😃
What a great idea to build a layout round a Christmas tree and it looks brilliant so far, I like the 00 and 009 together running side by side together, that's a nice little touch 😀
Thanks Adam, yeah adding 009 into the mix just allowed me to have some extra stuff going on inside the main circuit which I think adds to the layout. Thanks for watching 😃
That is really looking awesome. Looking forward to the next video in the series. Thanks for sharing and stay safe. Ken
Thanks Ken! If you want to see the next episode before everyone else you can join up as a Channel Member and you'll get early access to all the videos in this series. Thanks for watching 😃
Great video mate. I love the idea of having both the 00 gauge and 009 gauge track on the same layout as it will allow for both gauges of locos/stock to be run at the same time creating some interesting scenes. Look forward to the next one. - Nicholas.
Thanks Nicholas, yes the curves would have been a bit tight to have more 00 gauge inside the main circuit so I opted for 009 given how that has been really popular lately anyway. My reasoning is that Santa's elves use narrow gauge railways to move all the presents around! Thanks for watching 😃
Ive only recently subscribed to this channel a few days ago and im addicted. Me and the missus are thinking about putting our own set together next year set in the 1950s time period so watching your videos is giving me a lot of inspiration.. great videos my friend
That's brilliant, so glad to hear the videos are giving you ideas for your own layout! If this is your first layout you might want to check out my series Model Railway Basics for all the beginners guides on how to get started. Best of luck and thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy thank you for your reply, I will go watch some of your videos for beginners thanks for the heads up 👍
What a fantastic idea and fun to make. Getting children involved would be an excellent introduction to model railways!
Thanks Derek, the intention with this series was definitely to give some inspiration to those who might be starting their very first layout this Christmas while also still being of interest to those who are more experienced too. Thanks for watching 😃
Excellent start to the series! Really excited to see how this layout turns out! 🚂
Thanks Tony! It's definitely been a fun project to work on and something a little bit different too. Thanks for watching 😃
Can’t wait to see this develop, I love the idea
Thanks Harry! Thanks again for becoming a Member and you'll be able to watch episode 2 really soon. Thanks for watching 🤩
Excellent video as always. Great mix of gauges, and using standard pieces and showing how they can make a great looking layout.
You are fast becoming a youtube legend of smaller layouts.
Thanks John, yes I definitely wanted to show with this you can use set track pieces and still build a realistic looking railway. Now that I've extensively covered the smaller layout topics I really must get round to finishing my larger layout! Thanks for watching 😃
Nice little layout. The progress you've made really good. Thanks for the Derails link too. I've found a few things on there which look like nice little Christmas presents to myself. Looking forward to the next episode.
Thanks Tim, it's definitely been a fun little project tor work on and something a bit different too. Glad you found some stuff on Derails too! Thanks for watching 😃
I was so exited when this finally came out.
I'm excited that you're excited! Can't wait for you all to see the rest of the series. Thanks for watching 😃
Nice job
This will look beautiful around the Christmas tree
Nick Australia
Thanks Nick, yes I just need to get it finished now! Thanks for watching 😃
I would love to be able to do something like this but seing you do it is almost like building it my self.
Great video keep up the good work cheers
It's not as hard as you might think, although I totally get that some people just enjoy watching others layouts come together. You become so familiar with someone else's work that it almost does become your layout. Thanks for watching 😃
Wow, this is fantastic, great build as always. Looking forward to the other episodes in the run up to Christmas😀
Thanks, it's certainly been an interesting project to work on and just shows that even a loop of set track can be turned into a model railway. Thanks for watching 😃
Just found this - I love it - you've inspired me. It's about time my train set came out of its box - and what better place to set it up than under a Christmas tree. Well done you.
Really glad to hear it's given you some ideas! Best of luck with your Christmas layout and thanks for watching 😃
This gives me ideas for a layout of my own
Awesome, it's always great to hear when others are inspired to give it a go themselves! Best of luck and thanks for watching 😃
THIS IS SO AWESOME. Tis the season to be JOLLY!!!
Thanks Jade! Really glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 😃
This so so much fun getting to see another build and using both 00 and 009 gauge trains even more amazing. Can't wait for the next part. Bonus got to see trains run and Rudolf looks great.
GOD BLESS from America
🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖
Thanks Lois, yeah it's going to be great seeing them run side by side when the layout is finished. If you can't wait for the next part you can join up as a Channel Member and you'll get early access to all the videos in this series. Thanks for watching 😃
I went and put LGB around my tree looks amazing
Amazing, I did something very similar for a video a few years ago! Thanks for watching 😃
Fantastic, I look forward to the next episode.
Thanks! If you want to see it before everyone else you can become a Channel Member to get early access to the rest of the videos in this series. Thanks for watching 😃
Apart from this coherent and intelligent commentary (which extends to all TMG published videos) I can't commend Derails enough. Their range of stock and mastery of detailed issues deserve your support. I have absolutely no connection with them apart from being a customer, and provided you are not deterred by their "back door and cluttered entrance" the effort of visiting them in Coleford repays every effort.
Derails really are great aren't they. You always get the feeling they care about their individual customers or at least that's the impression I always get whenever I speak to them. Thanks for watching 😃
I’ve been working on a layout to go around my tree as well but I did it to go around my coffee table as well have you thought of name for the piano music where the peckett goes around the table
Amazing, it's definitely a fun way to take Christmas decorations to the max! The piano music is internally named Trundling Along. Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy do you have a link for how to find this music so I can find it to my own usage please
@@kylemaccauley6065 I write all the music on the channel myself so I'm afraid it's not available for use elsewhere.
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy oh ok I was just wondering cause I like the rhythm of that music as Baloo the bear would say oh man what a beat
A delightful series. Thank you so much. Would you mind stating the dimensions of the baseboard, please? Cheers. Chris.
Hiya, it's pretty much 80cm x 80cm - essentially just a little bit bigger than an R1 circuit. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 🤩
Would be great to see your Xmas loco from last year on that
Evidently someone didn't watch the whole video 😅
You should use the 00 and 009 duel gauge track
The two lines are separate on this layout so that I can have multiple trains running simultaneously, something that wouldn't be as easy with dual gauge track. Also it would have been too complicated and expensive for what is a relatively simple project. Thanks for watching 😃
Going back over this series as it’s given me inspiration to make a small layout like it,
If you don’t mind me asking, if you can still remember, where did you get the bridge/ Tunnel kits from?
Love this series and enjoying watching it and making a Christmas loco again too.
Awesome, this layout it pretty small already so it would be really interested to see how it could be made even more compact. The kits were from LCUT Creative if I remember correctly - along with the Goods Shed to. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
Smooth as….🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼
Haha, thanks Michael! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching 😃
Another great video. It would be really good sometime if you could do a video on how to wire electrofrog points
Glad you enjoyed it Gareth. The tricky thing with electrofrog points is that there's no one singular way of wiring them up - which is perhaps where some of the confusion comes in. I very rarely use electrofrog points myself but I do have an idea for a layout in the future that will use them so never say never. Thanks for watching 😃
How do I when people live in apartment? How can I do that? I have a Christmas tree said to, but I only use the snow blanket on the ground kinda dirty afterwards underneath I had to throw it away. What can I use for protecting it underneath?
Personally I use fake tree for use with this layout - and a small one at that, only 3ft instead of a full sized tree. Otherwise the layout would have to be a lot bigger to accommodate the base. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
Your platform kits interests me. Which brand are they ? I'm planning to put a station in a curve, and I need some platforms like the one you use. Thanks for your answer !
Hi there, they're from In The Greenwood. Nice simple little kits and fairly cheap but they have some drawbacks. I'd definitely build them a bit differently in the future but they're great for getting a curved platform easily round a specific radius. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
Where did you get the platforms from?
Hi there what hornby track did you use on the curve to alloy the point to fit in, it was a small curve but which one?
I’ve had an answer to a similar question. The curves are all 1st radius (Peco rather than Hornby), but the points are 2nd radius. Theoretically, that shouldn’t work, but there’s enough play in the fishplates that it does.
It's so crazy to think last year you where on around 2000 3000 sun's now around 16k merry Christmas
Looking back I did the 8K Subscriber Livestream this time last year but still we've essentially doubled the amount of people watching the channel! If we can do that again next year I think my head will explode 🤯 Thanks for watching 👍
Why did you decide to lay track directly on the plywood instead of using a cork roadbed? Do you build most of your layouts like this?
Mostly speed. It's absolutely fine to lay track directly on the board and using cork is mostly down to personal preference. I did use it on my larger 00 gauge but for this particular project I didn't feel it was necessary. Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I see. Thanks for giving me some ideas.
I note that the points (Peco ST-240 & ST241) are 2nd radius. Did you have to play any tricks to get those to work with the 1st radius curves, or was there enough play that this did not matter? Thank you.
Hi Michael, there's enough play in the set track pieces that I was able to add in the 2nd radius point without any trouble at all. I suspect it helped that I had two points on which helped balance it out. Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy , thank you for your reply. You’ve inspired me to build a small (2’6” x 3’6”) layout with a 1st radius 00 loop on the outside and a 009 loop on the inside. I’ll be sure to get my track from Derails of course.
I noticed that you didn't use track underlay. Was that on purpose, and how has that effected operation?
This was intended as a quick build which is why I didn't bother with the cork underlay this time round. Generally it doesn't make a huge amount of difference to the running, the main reason I use it on my other layouts is to get a more realistic shoulder to the ballast. Thanks for watching 😃
Where do you get the laser cut platform from?
They're from In The Greenwood. Thanks for watching 😃
Hi - great video series - can you let us know the supplier of the bridges and platform?
Glad you've enjoyed it Mark. LCUT Creative for the bridges and In The Greenwood for the platforms. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Brilliant - thanks - producing a layout like this if deffo on the list for next year!
Hi Philip here I have a question about what I should be useing for my layout as a base board at the moment I'm using big bit of cardboard but I no wood is better.what do you think I should be useing let me know
Hi Phillip, it depends on the aim of the layout. Wood is generally considered the standard for long term installations but people have used cardboard in the past for more temporary layouts. If you do go down that route I'd recommend sticking several layers together for extra strength.
Alternatively, if you're not keen on building your own baseboard from wood there are laser cut kits available from several retailers that just glue together with a bit of pva. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy hi yes that helps me out a lot thanks for your help
Great video as always, look forward to the next one. Was wondering where do you get your laser cut items from? Like the platforms and the end plates of your modules?
Thanks Andy. The laser cut kits in this series were mostly from L Cut and In The Greenwood. The endplates I use for the modular layout are custom made. Thanks for watching 😃
The pictures looks like you’re forcing your dad to work on the layout
That was the joke, yes 😆
I wish the 2nd video wasn’t member only
Only for now, the rest of the series will be available for everyone at a later date 😉
Wish i could afford to do this just to expensive in south africa
There's lots of ways to create a model railway on a restricted budget so I wouldn't give up hope just yet. Thanks for watching 😃
Hi there what hornby track did you use on the curve to alloy the point to fit in, it was a small curve but which one?
Hi Richard, it’s all Peco track on this layout. The 00 gauge stuff is all 1st Radius curves. Mostly double length curves but there’s a few singles to accommodate the two setrack points - I did have to do a bit of light adjustment as I was clipping it all together as well. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy so a single length curve to go with the point to fit the point into the circle?